What’s interesting about MXP4 is that it combines both high-quality audio with a series of additional features designed to make files themselves more interactive and capable of multimedia deployments than existing formats.

The technology enables musicians and record labels to provide listeners with more engaging content, such as the original song along with multiple versions of the composition, graphics and text (lyrics and so on), all within a single low data download.
“The music industry is looking for new and creative ways to present their artists and increase revenue,” said Trish Thomson, CEO of Musinaut.

“MXP4 technology now gives artists and the industry a new and innovative way to offer richer musical content to consumers. Currently, recorded music is static and two-dimensional. MXP4 technology makes it far more exciting and dynamic by giving it extra dimensions, enabling artists to be more expressive and providing listeners with a more interesting and interactive experience.”

Over the past few months a number of bands, producers and DJs across the United States and Europe have been beta testing MXP4Creator.

Electro-pop artist songwriter Margaux completed her forthcoming ‘Spookydubois at Corfe Castle’ album, using MXP4 technology. She calls the technology a “powerful format”, saying it gave her, “the freedom to go beyond musical boundaries and opens up an endless amount of new possibilities.”

The solution’s made up of two components: the £279 MXP4Creator and the free MXP4Player. The website also hosts examples of creations made using the new format.

The developers helpfully point out that digital music sales now account for 15 per cent of the global music market – and by 2012, over half global music industry revenues will come from digital music. (Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2008).

Additional stats for fact fans:

– Overall digital track sales grew 45% in 2007 to a year-end sales total of 844 million tracks. (Source: Nielsen Soundscan, 2008).
– Through the first three months of 2008, digital track sales increased at a rate of 29% over the same period last year. At this rate, digital track sales are on pace to break 1 billion by the end of 2008. (Source: Nielsen Soundscan, 2008).